Black History Preserved on Alabama A & M University
By Jean Brandau, About.com Guid
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| The State Archive Research Center & Museum is housed in the James H. Wilson Building on the campus of Alabama A&M Univ. |
The Archive preserves and holds material on all Alabama African American history, provides research for scholars on African American history, and displays African American material to the general public in its museum. It is the one place in the state where all Black History is brought together, sorted, catalogued and preserved.
There are several permanent exhibits at the State Black Archives Museum including The Buffalo Soldier and the Ignoble Mission. On June 28, 1866, an Act of Congress authorized the creation of six regiments of Black troops, two of cavalry and four of infantry. These troops went on to play a major role in the history of the West, and were nicknamed the "Buffalo Soldiers." They were active from the Revolutionary War to WWII. The Buffalo Soldiers camped in Huntsville following Spanish-American War. The SBARCM exhibit includes a uniform worn by the Buffalo Soldier, a miniature replica of a monument made (but not yet erected) to the Buffalo Soldiers in Huntsville, and many framed paintings depicting the soldiers fighting. One interesting painting is of Kathay Williams, a female soldier who fought with the Buffalo Soldiers undetected as female for many years.
Another impressive exhibit at the Museum is the Black Women: Achievement Against The Odds. A small corridor is lined with framed posters of black women in all walks of life--Medicine, Law, Entertainment, Politics, Education, etc.--and their heroic rise to the top in their field. It is awe-inspiring to see so many black women who had beaten great odds to contribute to society and take their rightful place in the history of our country.
When I visited the State Black Archives Research Center & Museum, there was an exhibit on Paul Hobeson, known as "The Voice of the People," an early black activist. Besides permanent exhibits, the Museum also features traveling exhibits. Check often to see what they have on display.
If you have art, artifacts, memorabilia, audio and video tapes, slides, black historical information, books, articles, speeches, correspondences, diaries, scrapbooks, documents, dissertations, historical photographs and negatives, manuscripts, movies or any other material relating to African American history that you would like to donate, you can send them to: State Black Archives Research Center & Museum, P.O. Box 595, Normal, Alabama 35762 or call (256) 372-4282 for more information. The Archives & Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 4:30 p.m. when the A & M University is in session.
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Source: About.com Alabama History & Museums
